Which is the right desktop processor for you?

August 11, 2017

You’re in the market for a new desktop processor, but you’re not sure which is the best processor for you?

Read on!

Before we go any further, I feel the need to point something out. There are a lot of processors out there, and the market is rapidly changing, so it’s impossible for me to tell you the exact processor you need. All I can do is offer pointers and guidance based on your needs.

Let’s break down the market into four segments:

This territory is a fight between AMD’s Ryzen 3 and Intel’s Core i3 chips.

Right now my recommendation goes to AMD and the Ryzen 3 chips for the budget segment. You can pick up a Ryzen 3 1200 for $110. For that price you get quad-core/four threads, an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and a fantastic cooler.

And if you don’t feel the Ryzen 3 1200 offers enough power, then for an extra $20 you can have the Ryzen 3 1300X which has a faster clock speed and boost.